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Definition of knockback

knockback

/ˈnɑːk.bæk/
knock · back
Plural:knockbacks
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knockback Lexical Profile

knockback Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A refusal, rejection, or unexpected setback.

Example

"Despite facing an early knockback from the publisher, the author continued to revise her manuscript."

2

In video games, a mechanic in which a character or object is forcefully pushed backward upon taking damage or being struck.

Example

"The heavy hammer attack deals moderate damage but inflicts significant knockback on surrounding enemies."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for knockback
Antonyms
View all antonyms for knockback

• Nearby Words

knobhead
knoblike
knock
knockback
knockdown
knocker
knockers

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Knockback. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/knockback
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